Marshall boys take fifth

Blanchard, Peterson crack top 25 in first-round play

June 11, 2014

JORDAN - Marshall's Jessica Blanchard and Hannah Peterson completed the first round of the 2014 Class AA State Golf Tournament Tuesday at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan. Peterson shot an 80 while Blanchard finished with an 84 after one round.

That puts Peterson in a tie for 15th while Blanchard is in 24th.

Sydney Busker of Detriot Lakes is atop the leaderboard after the first round with a 72.

Article Photos

Marshall's Jessica Blanchard lobs her ball out of the rough on hole No. 17 during Day 1 of the Class 2A state golf tournament at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan.

Photo by Todd Abeln/Shakopee Valley News Marshall's Brent Haukom watches his shot during the opening round of the Class 3AA State Golf Tournament Tuesday. Haukom had the lowest score of the day for Marshall with a 74.

Marshall’s Matt Bennett watches his tee shot during the opening round of the Class 2A State Golf Tournament Tuesday.

While the course is one the girls have played before, altered conditions have caused some frustration among the Marshall duo.

"The balls aren't sticking on the greens," Peterson said. "There were a few holes where I would hit it short and the ball would roll to the back. That was frustrating."

The players are used to playing softer greens during the season, which can cause adjustment problems when they get to the state tournament.

In addition to the green speeds, the pair had to contend with a change in pin placement.

"That's why it's the state tournament and why it's hard," Marshall coach Nancy Blanchard said. "It takes a lot of strength to put enough backspin on the ball so it doesn't roll in that situation."

Unlike past years, the weather at the tournament worked in the players' favor.

"The weather was pretty nice today," Jessica Blanchard said. "I was able to do a good job of staying out of the thick rough and putting the ball near the pin.

"I thought I shot the ball pretty well, but I'm going to be trying to get my score down tomorrow."

Peterson and Blanchard had a goal of finishing in the top 15-20 competitors.

Nancy Blanchard knows her players are capable of it.

"Hannah is right in there and Jessica still has a lot of work to do, but it's only halftime at this point. We'll look for an even better day tomorrow."

Peterson showed a four-stroke improvement from the front to the back nine, shooting a 42 and then a 38 on the back.

Blanchard shot a 42 on both the front and back nine.

Team Standings

Day 1

1. Detroit Lakes, 293

2. Red Wing, 326

3. Pequot Lakes, 328

4. Minnewaska Area, 341

5. Osakis, 366

6. Visitation, 367

7. Jordan, 371

8. Breck School, 371

Individual Standings

Day 1 (Top 20)

1. Sydney Busker (Detroit Lakes), 72

2. Trisa Hutchinson (Detroit Lakes), 73

Maggie Heggerston (Pequot Lakes), 73

Kate Smith (Detroit Lakes), 73

Anni Heck (Visitation), 73

6. Marja Sorenson (Rocori), 74

7. Natalie Roth (Detroit Lakes), 75

8. Nicole Schammel (Red Wing), 76

Mattie Tschider (Detroit Lakes), 76

10. Jenna Janu (Minnewaska Area), 77

11. Emily Israelson (Staples-Motley), 78

Trianna Thong (Jordan), 78

Emily Schimbeno (Lake City), 78

Stephanie Herzog (Red Wing), 78

15. Hannah Johnson (Belle Plaine), 80

Mackenzie Olsen (Stewartville), 80

Corinne McKeeth (New Ulm), 80

Hannah Peterson (Marshall), 80

19. Emma Groom (St. Croix Lutheran), 81

Amanda Nies (Pequot Lakes), 81

Alayna Eldred (Osakis), 81

Boys

The boys team finished the day with a 314, which put them in fourth place after the first round.

Brent Haukom had the lowest score of the day for the Tigers with a 74. Matt Bennett finished with a 78 while John Wyffels and Matt Christianson shot an 80 and 82 respectively.

Providence Academy has the team lead after the first round, shooting an even 300.

While making up 14 strokes isn't outside of the Tigers' capabilities, Marshall coach Allen Lucht wasn't overly pleased with the team score.

"We don't have any excuses," Lucht said. "I think we just got caught up in trying too hard and forgetting how to play our game."

All four of the Marshall golfers improved their scores on the back nine with the exception of Haukom, who shot a 37 on both the front and back.

Bennett, who is tied for 30th, improved his score from a 41 to a 37 on the back nine while Alex Buysse shot a 38 on the back nine after recording a 45 on the front.

He sits in a tie for 57th with a score of 83.

Jacob Baker also has an 83, shooting a 45 on the front before improving to a 38 on the back.

Haukom came away pleased with his 74, but also knows there is room for improvement.

"I left a few putts out there, but overall I was happy with the way I played. We talked a lot afterwords about how we tried too hard. There's a lot of distractions at the state tournament and I think we got caught up in that."

The Tigers are currently sitting in a fourth place after Buysse's 83 broke a tie with The Blake School at the fifth spot.

Lucht feels confident that his team can climb up the ladder in round two.

"I know this team can shoot a 288. If we are able to do that tommorrow, we will be able to get right back in the mix. We know we're better golfers than what we showed today."